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Thin blue line broken

By Kavisha Pillay The Global Corruption Barometer, released by Transparency International (TI) in July, revealed that South Africans viewed the police service as the most corrupt institution in the country. A staggering 83 percent of respondents had this perception of the police, and of the 74 percent of respondents who came into contact with a police official Read more >

Almost 50% of S Africans paid a bribe in last year

Some 47% of South Africans say they have paid a bribe in the last year to secure an essential service – a staggering 20% higher than the global average of 27%, according to the recently released findings of Transparency International’s 2013 Global Corruption Barometer. The report, which draws on the experiences of 114 000 respondents in Read more >

National crime stats don’t help corruption fight

The national crime statistics released in parliament today do not provide the information necessary to strengthen the fight against corruption. Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said that it appeared that the crime statistics categorise much of the reporting of corruption as common fraud.  However, it is essential to isolate those reports of white collar Read more >

Khayelitsha commission to lift lid on rot

By Lorraine Louw Work has started in earnest for the commission of inquiry announced by Premier Helen Zille into the breakdown in relations between the police and residents in Khayelitsha, in Cape Town. The commission opened its offices to the public on 11 September. It was announced by the premier on 22 August, has been Read more >

W Cape cops play robbers

By Lorraine Louw There is an old saying that you should set a thief to catch a thief. The thing about old sayings is that they often have their origins in truth. Certainly, independent consultant criminologist Liza Grobler seems to have found it to be the case. Grobler spent three years talking to cops here Read more >

Bribery: it just doesn’t pay

By Zaheer Cassim For some South Africans paying a bribe is the efficient way to get things done. It’s a basic transaction whereby someone provides a service and, in return, is compensated. But this is no lawful contract and many people are learning the hard way that dealing with corrupt individuals through bribery is not Read more >

Police’s graft tolerance feeds ‘code of silence’

By Chantelle Benjamin A new study has found a direct link between South African Police Service (SAPS) members’ willingness to report on law-breaking colleagues and the extent to which the guilty parties believe their colleagues will keep silent, as well as whether they believe action will be taken against the lawbreaker. Considering that a previous Read more >

Shebeen owners slam ‘crooked’ cops

Shebeen owners in Pimville, Soweto, have accused SAPS officers from Kliptown police station of corruption. They claim their businesses are raided regularly and that their goods are confiscated – even though they have trading permits. Police officers harass them weekly, the shebeen owners in the area have told Corruption Watch. They often confiscate their goods, Read more >

Richard Mdluli: a comprehensive timeline

Can’t get your head around the convoluted saga of suspended police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli? Let’s start from the very beginning … 2012 26 June 2012 – New national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega appoints Major General Chris Ngcobo as acting head of Crime Intelligence and Protection and Security Services. 17 June 2012 – Read more >